Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations Bullheads

I have a new pond that I stocked in March. The mix has Bass, Bluegill,Redear,Yellow perch,Channel cat,as well as fatheads and shiners. Everything was going well and still is. Two days ago I noticed some darker fish at the feeding ring. A small hook and a piece of worm produced a bullhead catfish. Some S.O.B. must have introduced them. I have a friend who had them in his pond when he first purchased it and we improved the bass population. The bullheads seemed to dissapear! Has anyone else had success with ridding these unwanted fish?

Bullheads got in a new pond I built 8 years ago from a near by creek. The bass took care of them. It’s a great bass pond today.
I’ve just built another one below a pond that has bullheads. I’m just going to have to run with it.

I have a friend that swears by bullheads for raising trophy bass.
This goes against popular opinion.
He has just started a renovation of a 3-acre pond which he plans a golden shiner bullhead food base. He is going to stock 10 to 12 inch Bass at 20 an acre the next year.
We’ll see.

My pond will be 4 years old this fall and a few weeks ago I noticed a dark cloud of baby bullheads minnows. We watch our pond very closely and I am sure this is the first year we had a hatch. I am positive no one put them in there. My guess is a few eggs last year that were transplanted on the legs of our feathered friends. Possibly this year, but it seems like to many minnows for the eggs to have been stuck to a ducks foot.

I am also struggling with a good idea to remove them. I netted out what I could while they were swimming in a swarm. They have spread out now and I haven't seen any for a while, but I am sure some are still there. I was thinking of a minnow trap with cheese in it. I know bullheads bite on cheese and most fish don't.

I lost a lot of bass to the cold last winter and am not sure if I even have any in there or not anymore. I can't restock them till fall. Maybe too late to head off the bullheads.

I would also appreciate any ideas.

Brian

A trap is the best idea. Also try fishing with a panfish rod and reel with a small float, slit-shot, and #8 hook or smaller. Use your favorite bluegill bait. Do not use the fake worms made by berkly. Fish the rig near brush or any kind of structure. Or fish in your favorite bluegill spot. You will in time start attracting the bullheads to where our throwing out your bait and will catch a few.